Air Force Hanover captured the evening’s $6,600 top-class pace at Summerside Raceway on Monday (Oct. 5), paying off the perfect pocket trip provided by driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson. 

Leaving from post three in the five horse affair, Air Force Hanover got away second as the 3-2 favourite while Freemans Legacy (Jaycob Sweet) cut the opening quarter in :29. Things remained unchanged up top as the field reached the halfway point in :58.2 while the top pair began to scamper away from the field at three-quarters in 1:26.2. 

Air Force Hanover tracked intently to the head of the lane, timing his move just right as he was able to get the better of Freemans Legacy by a neck on the wire in 1:55.1. Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) rallied to be third.

It was the fourth win of the season for Air Force Hanover in 10 seasonal outings, with each of those wins coming consecutively. The 10-year-old stallion son of Somebeachsomewhere-Allamerican Cogniac is owned by Woodmere Farms of Marshfield, P.E.I. Air Force Hanover has earned $679,729 lifetime following his 29th career victory.

Ken Murphy and Jaycob Sweet each made three trips to the winner’s circle Monday evening at Red Shores Summerside Raceway while trainer Rick Armstrong scored a double on the 15-dash program.

Murphy opened his winning night with St Patricks Morn ($6.80), who was elevated to first in race one after Somewhere Racey was placed fourth for interference. St Patricks Morn paced his mile in 2:01.1 for owner-trainer Alan MacDonald of East Bideford, P.E.I.

Plymouth Rock ($3.80) supplied Murphy’s second victory while giving Armstrong the first half of his training double. The two-year-old Courtly Choice colt rallied from fifth at the stretch call to win the $4,200 maiden event in race five by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:03.2 for owner Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B.

Doncic ($4.40) completed Murphy’s triple in the $4,900 race six pace. The Ralph Sweet trainee led through fractions of 28.4, 58.1 and 1:28 before holding off Twin B John B (Driven by Jason Hughes) by a head in 1:57. D A Galloway (Ryan Desroche) finished third. David and John Sweet of O’Leary, P.E.I. own the four-year-old son of Sweet Lou.

Jaycob Sweet began his triple with an 8-1/4 length victory aboard Pandora Sena ($7.10) in race three. The three-year-old Evenin Of Pleasure filly earned her maiden victory in 1:59 for owner-trainer Clair Sweet of O’Leary, P.E.I.

Bettim Special Cay ($21.90) delivered Sweet’s second win with a nose decision over Abiding Art (Gilles Barrieau) in race eight. Jeff Lilley trains the Tobago Cays gelding, who stopped the clock in 1:59.2 for owners Lilley of Charlottetown, P.E.I. Upper Burlington, N.S., Danny Purcell, Blair MacLauchlan of Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Douglas Lowthers of Inverness, N.S.

Sweet then guided his own trainee Bettim Alive ($2.80) to a front-end victory in race 10. The Lazarus N gelding carved out splits of 28.1, 57.4 and 1:27.3 before drawing clear by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3 for owners Lilley and MacLauchlan.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Summerside Raceway.

(With files from Red Shores; Photo of Air Force Hanover winning on Oct. 5)